On the upside, I taught my students about Valentine’s Day, including its origins and how it’s celebrated in America. I think what I love most about talking about these kind of things is when I say that sometimes women propose to men and my students’ eyes get all big because that’s verboten here. I told them that it’s not just about romance either and that people give Valentines to anyone they love: parents, children, friends, etc. and that schoolchildren give them to their classmates. So I had them make Valentines. Some of them made them for me, which I hadn’t intended, but it was nice. It was interesting to hear a student who is visiting on school break from Russia to say at the beginning of class, “Valentine’s is a Christian holiday, yes?” Well, I suppose it is, in the same way Halloween and Groundhog’s Day are Christian. There are Christian roots, but they are far removed from any religious meaning now.
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Come, winter, have another flight
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain
Go, Winter, and come not again
The Teutonic (German culture) did the same thing but used a hedgehog seeing his shadow (sunny weather) or not (cloudy weather) to determine the forecast. Since Germans were the earliest settlers in Pennsylvania, they brought their tradition, but, seeing no hedgehogs, they substituted groundhogs. That’s why we have Punxatawney Phil.
In another week or so, Lent will begin. I’m not sure yet what I’ll give up, if anything, but if I do, I’ll make an exception for Purim.
All I’ll say about Presidents Day is that Teddy Roosevelt is my favorite.
Oh, and it’s Leap Year! Happy extra day!